Cutting edge insights on ministry, leadership, and practical theology

Post navigation

Friday Stream of Consciousness – 61

This may be my final post of 2012. I’m adding a post per week to the blog next year, and need to recharge my blog batteries a bit before doing so.

I moved to 3 posts per week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) last year in an effort to share fewer, better posts. However, I’m moving to 4 believing it’s both doable and can help build better conversation through consistency.

As we approach the end of the year, it’s appropriate to spend some time reflecting on 2012. When I look at how I spent my time: I read a little less, I wrote a little more, and spent more quality time with my family. My reading also shifted a bit more toward politics (it was an election year), and technology, and away from fiction. I read 1 fiction book all year—an all-time low, though I’m hoping to finish a second before the end of the year. The rest (20+ books) was non-fiction. That’s likely to make me a smarter, more bland individual. It may give me some interesting things to share, but it will also dry out my ability to share them in a way that will bless people.

Reading fiction is so enjoyable, and helps me tell better stories better. It isn’t for non-intellectuals, as some of my colleagues believe. It’s for everyone. If you have to be a snob about it, at least read the classics of literature. Some of the best non-fiction is found in fiction.

Grammar it also helps with…Did you get that joke?

I took the girls to see Life of Pi. What a great movie! It was deep, had a great story, and even great action. There’s quite a bit of animal on animal violence, but it’s not filmed in a gruesome way.

There’s nothing like a long trip full of inconveniences in an overcrowded car with your kids to test your patience and faith. Though this week’s journey was a challenge, I realized we travel far better together as a family now. If our “Planes, Trains, and Automobiles” experience (yes, it was that bad) had happened when we had all younger kids, I might be typing this from a padded cell. As it turns out, with kids 10, 8, and 2, only one was true thorn in the flesh. Guess which one 🙂

On the trip, I realized I’m sounding more and more like my parents. Among the classics I echoed were, “Turn that music down, you’re going to hurt your hearing,” “Put down the [insert electronic device here] and spend some time with the family,” and the infamous, “Don’t make me pull over.” Yikes. But, wouldn’t my mom and dad be proud?

Skiing and surfing have this in common: there is hardly anything more fun, terrifying, and difficult than to do them even moderately well in high surf/steep mountains. In both cases, it’s totally worth the journey–and an opportunity to enjoy creation far larger than oneself.

I was all set to write my “Top 10 Books of 2012” post, and then I realized I hadn’t read enough books to make out a legitimate top 10. I did read more than 10. I just didn’t read enough that picking the best 10 meant much. If you read 20-25, picking out the best 10 doesn’t mean much So maybe I’ll pick out a top 3 or 5 and post on those.

People continue to rib me about buying a Windows Phone 8 and moving away from the iPhone. Keep partying like it’s 2008.

What’s on your mind this Friday?

Related

Dr. Tim Spivey is Lead Planter of New Vintage Church in San Diego, California. He is the author of numerous articles and one book, "Jesus: The Powerful Servant." A sought after speaker for events, Tim also serves as Adjunct Professor of Religion at Pepperdine University. Tim serves as a church consultant, and his writings are featured on ChurchLeaders.com, Church Executive magazine, Faith Village, Sermon Central, and Giving Rocket.